Bacterial meningitis and brain abscess

Bacterial meningitis and brain abscess continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in children and adults. This article reviews pyogenic, non-tuberculous meningitis and brain abscess, specifically: recent changes in the epidemiology caused by new immunizations; the clinical manifestations at different ages (from non-specific signs in infancy to localizing clinical signs in older children and adults); advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology; laboratory and radiological diagnosis; current treatment strategies including the use of adjunctive therapies such as corticosteroids; and recent advances in the prevention of meningitis by vaccination.